hey, im 19, ive been struggling with this almost a year. The first week I became itchy I went in to check about a yeast infection another week later. I have been to 10 different doctors a total of about 15 appointments for this problem for the past 11 months. I have been tested for everything including having a biopsy. I was first told basically to just go home and use hydrocortazone, then I went …

I’m so glad I’ve found a place where there are others who understand how I feel!

So this is my story:-

I’m 36, and 4 months ago, whilst innocently sitting in bed reading I experienced a very sharp stabbing pain in my clitoris. It last only a few minutes and then subsided as quickly as it came on. It put it down to “one of those things”. The following morning I woke up …

About three months ago, I started having vaginal and vulval itching. Then, about two months ago, my vulva started to feel painful and look swollen, so I went to the doctor. I was tested for herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea which all came back negative. I also had to do a vaginal swab test and the only thing that came back positive was yeast infection. I was prescribed hydrozole …

This might be a little long but it's been such a long time I've even been able to talk about my problems openly thank you in advance for any helpful advice.
So ok I'm 24 I've been having this problem for over two years seen quite a few doctors and obgyns alike and nobody will take me seriously I have had a few utis and yeast infections and even bv once and this all started after one of the utis …

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the MonaLisa Touch treatment for Vulvodynia? My pain started when I went on HRT(pill) for anxiety mainly and my pain abruntly stopped when I stopped HRT. However, when I started on the HRT patch (at my dr's suggestion), the pain returned and has never left. That was 7 years ago. I found MonaLisa Touch on the internet purely by accident …

Hi there hope some1 reading this is going through the same shit as me!, I'm new to this so don't really know where to start , I'm Teresa , I've just been diagnosed with vestibular vulvadynia , after countless appointments with GPS being misdiagnosed, tested for god knows everything , eventually under my gynochologist ,who done all her necessary tests, I now have been given a diagnosis I'm in …

Hi there. I'm 25 and have been dealing with this for over a year and a half and I'm really starting to lose hope this will ever stop.

In July of 2016 I had a yeast infection. When Monistat didn't work I went to my gynecologist who prescribed Diflucan. When the itching didn't stop she retested me and found that my yeast infection was gone, but I now had a bacterial infection. After taking the …

I'm honestly hoping to get any bit of advice anyone might have to offer. I go from bouts of sobbing hysterically in my boyfriend's arms to feeling confident that I can beat this.

I haven't been actually diagnosed with vulvodynia but EVERYTHING under the sun has come back negative. I started having sex 4 years ago after starting Lo Loestrin, with my first and current boyfriend …

I am new here and hope to gain some insight into my vulva pain. I suffered for a long time not realizing that there are ways to feel better. I saw the Dr. yesterday and I am starting P/T pelvic and valium suppositories.

I'm twenty-five years old, like to have fun but am very mature for my age (I'm two years out from getting my Ph.D.), and previously was very proud to just have non-monogamous casual sex relationships--but I suspect that last part will change now.

It's been a difficult summer. My first gynecologist had me on topical and oral diflucan for a yeast infection I didn't have and the antibiotics ampicillin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin for other infections I didn't have.

On Friday I got a second opinion and before looking at me the doctor said my symptoms didn't sound like an infection, and after performing the Q-tip test he said he thinks I have vulvar vestibulitis. He printed out a bunch of research, most of the 2000s, for me to look over and also a pamphlet for a support group. I've started on Montelukast (aka, singulair), which acts as a mast cell inhibitor.

After doing my own research, the description that fits best is secondary provoked vestibulodynia presenting with moderate erythema, dyspareunia, frequent urination, urgent urination, and a feeling of incomplete emptying with urination. In other words, I have had pain-free penetration, but sometimes penetration or contact with my genitals sets off a pain episode that results in a burning feeling, redness, swelling, painful penetration, and urinary symptoms.

I realized after getting the diagnose that the symptoms I'd been experiencing this summer, which I thought were an infection, were similar to symptoms I experienced last year. In 2015, after having sex that was too rough with a partner who was too big for too long, I was in pain for months and no doctor could figure out why. It eventually just went away on its own. I didn't notice that my pain episode this time began immediately after sex (I'd had sex in May and then my symptoms became apparent in June), but it does very much feel like the same thing all over again.

I want to get more tests done to rule out or confirm a hormonal imbalance (my symptoms get worse just before and at the beginning of my period) and interstitial cystitis (IC) (because of the urinary component). I recognize that I could have these issues in addition to vestibulodynia, as women who have it also frequently have at least one other chronic condition (comorbidity).

Regarding the treatment options my doctor suggestions, it looks like recent research has not confirmed their efficacy, but he said that I will be in charge of my treatment and appreciates that I do my own research into my conditions. I'm definitely open to surgery, although he views that as a last resort.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having to go through this, and I hope with time you are able to find lasting relief

That will be the goal of treatment, but I know that this may last forever.

I've found that different people have different approaches to dealing with a diagnosis like this. When I entered my twenties, my mom was diagnosed with a rare chronic, degenerative neuromuscular disease, of which there are two types: one that can be cured and one that can't be.

Her doctor told her that she had the kind that couldn't be cured, and I drove with her to Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion. For a lot of the drive up there she was talking about how her doctor might not know what he was talking about and she had been praying to God about it and she believed that the doctors at Mayo would give her better news.

And the whole time I wished she would stop, because, like I said, I'd rather assume the worst and be surprised than hope for the best and be disappointed.

Mayo did indeed confirm that her disease is incurable, and I won't be surprised if my condition isn't either. And accepting that is part of how I cope.

I agree that sometimes assuming the worst is better than wishing for the best, but just know that with vulvovaginal issues beyond simple yeast and BV, doctors know VERY little. Most I've found are quick to blame the pain on overactive nerves, which, in my opinion, seems to be the knee jerk response of specialists who don't know how to look any further.

I've seen over 10 doctors for my pain, and I've had varying responses. Some were convinced it was a tough infection, some blamed nerves, some blamed imbalanced flora, some blamed lack of estrogen, etc. It's all a guessing game at this point, and I believe that's because the cause of vulvodynia varies as much as each individual woman.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is don't give up all hope of being rid of your pain. Don't rely on a doctor to diagnose or heal you. If I would have, I wouldn't be making the huge improvements that I am today (no matter how slowly ).